3 worksheets 1 to look up other 2?

[misscrf]

I am trying to make a spreadsheet that we can use to see if the need for it will actually grow to the need of a database. For that reason, I am trying to make sure that the data has some integrity.

usually I make an access database, but my boss doesnt like me opening the can of worms lightly.

For that reason, I have been asked to set up this input in excel. If it turns out that a database is needed, I will tranfer the data into one. My goal is to set up some sort of many to many spreadsheets, so that I can transfer to a db easily.

The person entering will enter people as they schedule for the first time, and will enter the maintenace list in the beginning with that not likely to change much.

Most of their work will be on the schedule sheet, being able to look up the person, not having to ask what kind of car they have (because info is already there) and just scheduling work as they need it.

I set up 3 sheets.

Sheet one has people names, and car make and model. Sheet three has a list of the types of maintenance.

Sheet two has a column for the people from sheet 1 and then a maintence column (from the list on sheet 3) and a date column.

Can anyone help me for how to set this up, so that a user would be able to enter people on the people sheet, with their cars, schedule maintenance on the scheduling sheet and that should be it. I think the types of maintenance should be static.


here are some screen shots to show what I mean:


The people sheet -
http://www.geocities.com/misscrf/peoplelist.jpg

The Maintenance sheet/list -
http://www.geocities.com/misscrf/maintenancelist.jpg

The Schedule sheet -
http://www.geocities.com/misscrf/schedulesheet.jpg

The Employee column would come from the people sheet and the maintenance column would come from the maintenance sheet/list. The user can go to the people sheet when someone new calls in, but would do all of the scheduling on the schedule sheet. I will probably also have another sheet sorted by person, so she can see all of the work any 1 person has done on their car.

If it was really cool, I could have it set up an email to open whenever one is scheduled, with that person's email, to confirm their appointment. lol. Talk about getting ahead of yourself.

Thank you.

[misscrf]

nevermind. my boss agreed that I should do this in Access. It is done and ready to go out.

Thanks.

[swatsp0p]

I'm glad your boss got wise... use a database for database tasks. Use a spreadsheet for spreadsheet tasks. (and s/he had to be convinced to do this?... sheesh!)

Good Luck!

Bruce

[misscrf]

I do and did understand his hestitancy, although I am happy that it is now in a db. The problem we have is that any app I create, I support. Furthermore, we have 100-500 employees that want stuff. If one person wants an app, I create it and give it to them. A day later they want more fields, more tables, more forms, more reports. It never ends. We like to give them a fish tank before building a lake...